From Winter To Summer and Winter Again 3

Part 7

Rhaenyra quickly walked through the war camp, ignoring as soldiers nodded and offered her sympathetic glances. She tightened the tie against her waist as she rushed to the edge of the camp. The sound of a sword slashing against a tree caused her to quicken her pace. Rhaenyra's stomach knotted as the harsh sounds increased.

Her eyes clouded as she saw her husband. His back was turned as he struck a tree with his sword. "Robb," he did not turn. "Robb!" Her voice croaked as she cried out. "You've ruined your sword! Stop!" Rhaenyra ran to him as the weapon fell to the ground, he quickly turned. Her heart shattered as her eyes met his.

She had only seen Robb cry twice before when their children were born. The tears he shed were joyful as he held his new children in his arms. The tears he cried before her now were sorrowful, a horrible sight that broke her heart. Rhaenyra felt helpless, the only thing she could do was wrap her arms around him.

Robb's head fell into her shoulder, his body shook with each sob. She rested her hand against his head as she attempted to soothe him in any way. "I'll kill them. I'll kill every one of them."

"You will avenge your father." She continued to console him, letting him cry against her. Her heart broke with each cry.

The Northerners had a mock funeral for Lord Eddard Stark. The high lords demanded to eat outside, rather than a tent. Insisting the coolness of the night's air reminded them of home. Each ate and sang in honor of the dead Lord, attempting to tell honorable stories of him only for the present Starks to silently cry in their seats.

The feast did not last. Lord and Lady Stark numbly sat beside each other as their bannermen spoke of who would they bend the knee to. Rhaenyra's gloved hand gripped Robb's as the two gazed toward the bickering men. She caught her father's cold eyes and quickly looked away as he stood to speak.

"The proper course is clear - pledge fealty to King Renly and move south to join our forces with his," Rhaenyra rolled her eyes at her father's preference and his sick hope for a Tyrell alliance.

Robb's grip on her hand tightened, "Renly is not the king."

"You cannot mean to hold to Joffrey, my lord. He put your father to death!"Shouts of agreement erupted from the other men. Rhaenyra released Robb's hand, itching below the table to pet Grey Wind. She needed the reassurance of the wolf's presence.

" That doesn't make Renly king. He's Robert's youngest brother. Bran can't be Lord of Winterfell before me, Renly can't be king before Stannis."

Roose's gaze fell to the floor, "Will you declare for Stannis?"

Rhaenyra sighed as arguing began with her father's question. She pulled her hand away from her wolf as the shouts grew louder. Grey Wind placed his head onto her lap, she smiled and rubbed at his snout.

"My lords!" Screamed Greatjon Umber. Rhaenyra pinched the bridge of her nose as he rose from his seat. " My Lords! Here is what l say to these two kings." He spat onto the floor and the Northerners around him hollered in agreement. "Renly Baratheon is nothing to me, nor Stannis neither. Why should they rule over me and mine from some flowery seat in the South? What do they know of the Wall or the Wolfswood? Even their gods are wrong!" Rhaenyra held back a laugh at his comment. "Why shouldn't we rule ourselves again? lt was the dragons we bowed to and now the dragons are dead! There sits the only king l mean to bend my knee to - the King in the North!" Rhaenyra's eyes widened as Lord Umber drew his sword, digging the weapon into the dirt and falling to his knees. She stood from her seat, Robb joining her.

Her eyes shifted to Lord Karstark as he spoke, "I'll have peace on those terms. They can keep their Red Castle and their iron chair too." He too drew his sword, joining Lord Umber on his knees. "The King in the North!"

Rhaenyra's hand reached for Robb's, he gripped back as Theon stood before Lord Umber and Karstark. "Am l your brother, now and always?"

"Now and always," said Robb.

Theon dug his sword into the ground, eyes never leaving Robb and Rhaenyra. "My sword is yours in victory and defeat, from this day until my last day. My King and Queen." Rhaenyra looked to the three men who bent the knee to her and her husband. She was speechless at their dedication to the North.

"The King in the North!" Shouted Lord Umber as he rose from the ground. The other Lord's joined in his chant. Rhaenyra turned to Robb, smiling as the same words left her lips.

Silently, Rhaenyra made way toward her tent, her head held high. The Queen in the North, repeated in her head. Her indifference to her title had not settled, her children's new titles seeming more odd. She smiled at the sight of her new home in the distance but was stopped at her father's voice screaming for her.

"Your grace!" Rhaenyra stopped walking, she turned to face him. It was the first time being referred to as a royal, her heart swelled.

"Yes, father."

"Congratulations daughter." He tightly hugged her, she wrapped her arms around him. The familiar coldness he emanated soothing her anxiousness."Your sons," he paused. "I wish to see them tomorrow. To show them my congratulations as well as to tell them of their Bolton lineage."

"Did you just plan this?"

"I simply want to spend time with the princes," he said.

Rhaenyra turned back toward the direction of her tent before speaking again, "Don't influence them too much father."

"Yes, your grace." She ignored his words and slowly walked toward her tent. Rhaenyra smiled, seeing Catelyn sew in a chair close to the bed. Her children were asleep.

"Thank you for watching them, Cat," her good mother nodded. "How are you?"

"As good as expected." Rhaenyra noticed the tear stains on her cheeks, "How is he?"

"Better," she sat beside Domeric and gently caressed his head as she watched him sleep. "Did you hear the shouts?"

Catelyn nodded, "They do struggle at being quiet." She lightly laughed before dropping her sewing to her lap. "How do you feel about being queen?"

"Worried."